Purse alternative

ABSTRACT

A pocket for retaining and concealing personal items such as cell phones, identification, money, and valuables. The pocket has a detachable version and a permanently attached version. The pocket may be acquired separately from the garment with which it is used and inserted by attachment means. The pocket is assembled with a garment in an orientation that is opposite of conventional pockets, having an opening that aligns with a terminal end of a garment, such as the lowest edge of a hem. The closure of the pocket is in-line with the terminal end of the garment or within 0.5 inches of the end of the garment. The pocket is easily accessible from the terminal end of the garment.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61786880 filed Mar. 15, 2013 titled “Purse Alternatives” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Individuals increasingly rely on technology to manage all aspects oftheir day to day life. Computer technology has advanced allowinginexpensive access to individuals to handheld computing devices. Thedevices may serve as communication devices, but also provide importantinformation such as news, weather, location services, and otherwise. Asindividual reliance on computing devices increases, more and moreindividuals are carrying the devices with them on a regular if notconsistent basis. Individuals also routinely carry other items with themsuch as but not limited to, identification, money, monetary devices suchas credit cards and rebate cards, and personal care products such asmedication, cosmetics, skin salves, and otherwise.

As technology increases the number of items individuals are compelled tocarry, clothing and design interests have decreased the number of mannerof carrying the items. Designers have removed or reduced the size ofpockets in clothing, particularly women's clothing. Pockets are removedin some instances to lend a more slimming line to the waste and hips. Inother cases, merely to project a sleek clothing profile.

The removal of pockets from clothing has increased the need for carryingbags, purses, backpacks, and otherwise in an effort to accommodatepersonal items.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A pocket is disclosed for use with a garment. Where the garment has anupper edge, such as a waist line or neck line, and a terminal edge, suchas a hem. The pocket may be removably attached to the garment, orpermanently attached to a garment. The pocket has at least a front walland a back wall which are connected in such a way as to define a threedimensional compartment therein. The compartment has a depth suitablefor holding personal items, including common electronic items such ascellular phones. The compartment also has structural elements thatredistribute the weight of contained objects away from the face of thegarment toward the wearer's body. The access means of the pocket isaligned with the terminal edge of the garment such that the contents ofthe garment may be easily accessed without lifting the garment to revealthe user's skin or body underneath.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the disclosure willbe, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following figures and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, be within the scope ofthe invention, and be protected by the following claims

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a pocket assembled with a garment.

FIG. 2 provides a close up view of a pocket.

FIG. 3 provides a side view of the pocket associated with a garment anda side view of the pocket in expanded view.

FIG. 4 provides a second embodiment of a pocket.

FIG. 5 provides a close up view of a pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like reference numerals are generally used to refer tolike elements throughout. In the following description, for the purposesof explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It maybe evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, structures anddevices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitatedescribing the claimed subject matter.

The following description of the drawings and the various system,method, and apparatus is not intended to limit the inventive system,methods and apparatus disclosed herein to one embodiment, but rather toenable any person skilled in the art of to make and use the inventivepocket.

Pockets have long been disappearing from clothing, particularly women'sclothing, professional clothing, and formal wear. Due to a lack ofpockets, individuals may use bags, purses, backpacks, waste packs, andotherwise to carry their personal items, e.g., cell phones, money,identification, cosmetics, and similar. These personal items may bebulky and may not fit in pockets provided by clothing (if pockets areprovided at all).

Carrying purses, bags, backpacks, waist packs, and etc. often pose aproblem of inconvenience to individuals. For example, often in formalenvironments, bags are not permitted and are required to be checked at acoat check. In this instance, the individual must either return to thecoat check to make a call or apply cosmetics, or the individual mustattempt to store the needed items in undergarments such as bras,underwear, or nylons. In other situations, such as individuals attendingweddings, dances, outdoor picnics, outdoor concerts, barbeques, orsocializing in restaurants and bars, purses, bags, wallets, and etc. maybecome cumbersome. In some situations such as these, there is asignificant advantage of having both hands free to, for example, holdfood and drinks, dance freely with or without a partner, or play sports.In these situations, it may not be advisable to leave a purse or bagunattended while the individual circulates the event.

Existing attempts to solve this problem have not been satisfactory. Forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,464,798 and 4,498,200 disclose forming apocket out of the hem of a garment. In these patents, a zipper or otheraccess means is inserted at the selvage of the hem (in that case, theselvage is defined as an uppermost part of a hem, the hem being afolding over of the edge of the piece of cloth and sewn at a locationabove the edge leaving a pocket around the periphery of the garment),providing the wearer access to the hem space for storage. Using the hemas storage presents several limitations. First, being unbounded, thecontents placed within the hem space may relocate around the diameter ofthe skirt, causing bulges in the hem, and also making it difficult toretrieve the items, as they must first be maneuvered through the fabricof the skirt to move them to a location where they can be retrievedthrough an opening. Second, hemlines do not provide sufficient space orsupport for carrying larger items such as cellular phones, credit cards,and otherwise. They are primarily useful only for currency and perhapslipstick. Finally, the location of the zipper at the selvagenecessitates that the skirt is lifted to access the zipper, which mayrisk displaying the wearer's undergarments. Alternatively, the wearerwill have to retreat to a private location, which may not be possible ifthe wearer is at a large event where bathrooms or other private spacesare limited.

Other solutions include gun-holster type compartments, which arestrapped to the body, for example, to the leg or arm. These compartmentssimilarly pose problems of access (the garment must be lifted orremoved). They also pose problems of comfort, and may restrain freemovement or lead to skin chaffing.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,115 illustrates a solution for swimwear andsportswear. This assembly is a two-part assembly that requires thepermanent fixation of a pocket device into which a second carrying pouchis inserted. This invention is primarily for swimwear and is not adaptedto carry more than a key, money, or other small profile item. They arenot suitable for or disclosed as being suitable for cellular phonesand/or cameras. Also, the disclosure stresses the importance of the slimprofile in swimwear such that observers do not notice the pocket.Placing an electronic device in such a pocket would be quite contrary tothe purpose of discreteness. These pockets also pose the access problemdiscussed above; they do not allow easy access without removing theclothing to some extent.

None of the currently disclosed inventions could be placed on outerwearin such as way that they would hold larger items such as electronicswithout interfering with the line of the clothing.

We disclose herein an alternative to carrying a bag, such as a purse,backpack, waste pack, or otherwise. We disclose a novel and improvedpocket, which may be a concealed pocket, for inserting into garments.The novel and improved concealed pocket may have, among otherproperties, the ability to contain electronic items, wallets, andcosmetics without disrupting the natural line of the garment with whichit is associated. Applicant's unique design advances have resulted in animprovement that encourage a weight distribution away from the face ofthe garment toward the body of the user reducing outward bulging whenused with a garment. Further, the unique design allows for items to beloaded into the pocket or removed from the pocket in a non-revealingmanner. As used herein, a garment may have a revealing position and anonrevealing position. A revealing position is one which reveals morethan and including 0.6 inches of the wearer's body (otherwise covered bythe garment at issue) due to the adjustment in the garment that must bemade to access contents. An unrevealing position is one which revealsless than 0.6 inches of the wearer's body (otherwise covered by thegarment at issue) due to the adjustment of the garment that must be madeto access contents.

FIG. 1 illustrates on example of a pocket 120, assembled with a garment105. The garment 105 may include a top portion 107 which describes aportion of the garment oriented closest to the wearer's head. Examplesof a top portion 107 may include a waistband, a collar, or otherwise.The garment 105 also has a terminal edge 115. The terminal edge 115describes a portion of the garment located closes to the wearer's feet.

The discussion of top portion 107 and terminal edge 115 are forillustrative purposes to provide orienting points for fully describingthe orientation of the pocket 120 assembled with the garment 105.

The garment 105 may have seams 125 which may be vertical seams,horizontal seams, decorative seams, or otherwise. Additionally oralternatively, the garment 105 may end at a hem 110. The hem 110 may beany type of hem known in the art for securing the edge of the fabricagainst unraveling. The garment 105 may have a face 102 which representsthe plane of the garment. While the term ‘face’ is used, it is meant torepresent both the inner face and the outer face of the garment 105.

FIG. 1 illustrates one variation of a pocket, 120 assembled with agarment 105. The pocket 120 may include a pocket pouch FIG. 2, 210 and apocket backing 205. The pocket pouch 210 and pocket backing 205 may becontinuous or may be separately constructed and assembled. The pocketpouch 210 has a body and an opening 134.

In one variation the pocket backing 210 includes a periphery describedby at least one of a first side 122, a second side 124, a third side 126and a fourth side 128. The fourth side 128 may be flush with the fourthside FIG. 5, 528. The sides 122, 124, 126, and 128, may be arranged intoa square, rectangle, circular, triangular or ovular shape. The sides122, 124, 126, and 128 may also be referred to as wings due to theirappearance. The may function as additional surface area to facilitateattachment of the pocket 120 to a garment 105.

For orientation purposes, in the variation of FIG. 1, the first side 122and the third side 126 may be approximately parallel to the verticalline of the garment. The second side 124 and the fourth side 128 may beapproximately parallel to the line of the hem 110.

The pocket 120 may be assembled with the inside of a garment 105. Forexample, the pocket 120 may be assembled to the inside of the garment105 either fixedly or removably. The pocket 120 may be detachable. Inone variation, the pocket 120 is fixedly attached to the inside of thegarment 105 by, for example but not limited to, sewing, e.g., one ormore of the sides 122, 124, 126, and 128 to the face 102, which may bethe inner face, of garment 105. In one variation, the pocket may befixedly assembled with the garment 105 by sewing one or more of thefirst side 122 and the third side 126 of the pocket, which may be thevertical edges of the pocket 120 along seams 125, which may be verticalseams of the garment 105. In this variation, the fourth side 128 may besewn to the garment 105 at a location at or near the terminal edge 115of the garment. For example, the fourth side 128 may be sewn to thegarment 105 such that it is flush with the terminal edge 115, or so thatit is located slightly above the terminal edge 105, but still locatedclose enough to the terminal edge to allow a wearer to access the pocketwithout having to significantly invert the edge of the garment 105. Forexample, the fourth side 128 containing the opening 134 may locatedbetween the terminal edge 105 and within about 0.0 inches to about 0.5inches (and all increments contained therein) of the terminal edge 105,such that access to the opening is easily accessible withoutsubstantially inverting the garment, and or, without inverting thegarment at all.

FIG. 1 illustrates the pocket 120 sewn along a vertical seam of thegarment, however, the pocket may also be sewn along horizontal,decorative, or other seams, and/or attached behind decorative elementssuch as appliques or quilting, such that the seams of the pocket aredisguised on the outside of the garment. In garments where no or fewseams 125 are present, portions of the pocket 120 may be secured bysewing to available seams 125 and other portions may be secured withadhesive materials (illustrated in FIG. 1 as adhesive material 130).Additionally or alternatively, the pocket 120 may be attached usingpermanent or temporary adhesive tapes and other means known in thesewing arts for which evidence of attachment does not show through onthe outer side of the garment 105.

FIG. 1 illustrates one variation for attachment. In this example, thefirst side 122 and the second side 126 of the pocket 120 are attached attwo seams 125, which happen to be vertical seams. The second side 124 ofthe pocket 120 may be secured using adhesive material 130, or also bysewing or otherwise. The fourth side 128 may be attached using eithermeans, e.g., sewing, adhesive, permanent adhesive backing, pre-mountedpermanent iron on adhesive backing or other known means of securingfabric to fabric.

In a second variation, the pocket 120 may be partially or entirelyremovably attached to the garment 105 by using adhesive material oranother method of attachment. For example, the pocket 120 may beremovably attached to the garment 105 by using hook and loop tape,VELCRO, pre-mounted VELCRO backing, or another method of attachment.While FIG. 1 illustrates the attachment of the pocket 120 to the garment105 at vertical seams, it will be understood that the pocket attachmentis not limited to being sewn onto the seams 125, e.g., vertical seams ofthe garment 105. The pocket 120 may also be removaby or fixedly attachedto the garment 105 at other locations and by other means, such as butnot limited to by sewing, the use of adhesive material, hook and looptape, adhesive snaps, or another method of attachment. What is importantis that the access means 135 is located at or near the terminal edge115.

The pocket 120, may further include an opening 134 equipped with aaccess means 135. This figure demonstrates the access means 135 in aclosed formation. The access means 135 both allows access to the pocketpouch 210 and also securely closes the pocket pouch 210. Examples ofaccess means 135 include but are not limited to zippers, hook and looptape or otherwise. The access means 135 should create a complete closureand protect against contents falling out of the pocket, particularlysmall contents such as jewelry and coins. The access means 135 in thisexample is located at the fourth side 128 of the pocket 120, which isthe side closes to the wearer's feet. The location of the access means135 is unique over known pockets. Known pockets provide access at alocation above the body of the pocket.

In one variation, the pocket 120 is oriented on the garment 105 suchthat the opening 134 and associated access means 135, which in thisvariation is a zipper, is at or near the terminal edge FIG. 1, 115 ofthe garment 105. In this orientation, the second edge 124, which may bea sealed edge, is oriented toward the top portion FIG. 1, 107 of thegarment. This orientation is opposite of known pockets, which aretypically oriented such that the opening end is at or near the highestpoint of the pocket and the pocket terminates in a lower end of thecompartment. In other words, in known pockets, one inserts items into anopening and the items are positioned (e.g. by gravity) to a portion ofthe pocket that lies below the opening. In this case, by contrast, thecompartment extends up from the pocket opening (e.g., the access means135). Items are inserted through the opening 134, positioned in thepocket pouch FIG. 2, 210 the and secured into the pocket 120 by theaccess means 135. Due to the nature of gravity, some portion of thecontents may be in direct contact with and/or resting against the accessmeans 135. This feature (the access means being a lowest point andtherefore a point on which the contents may contact) is another featurethat distinguishes the current disclosure from earlier solutions. Theplacement of the access means 135 allows the possibility of access tothe pocket from the outside bottom of the garment without the need ofthe wearer to expose the undergarments or retreat to a private place toaccess the pocket.

Turning to FIG. 2, the pocket 120 may include (among other things) atleast one of a pocket backing 205, the pocket pouch 210, and an accessmeans 135, which may be a zipper.

The pocket pouch 210 may be a three dimensional compartment, forexample, the pouch may have multiple faces or walls approximating acube, a rectangular prizm, a triangular prizm, a dome-likeconfiguration, or otherwise. The faces may define a space within thecompartment capable of receiving electronic devices, credit cards,cosmetics, and similar items. Where fabric is used to create the pouch,the faces and/or walls may not always be strictly planar due to thefluid nature of the fabric. However, in some variations, the fabric maybe strengthened, e.g., infusing the fabric with plasticizer, fabricstiffener, starch, or other materials to create a rigidity to thefabric.

Turning briefly to FIG. 3, the pocket 120 may have a depth 305. Turningback to FIG. 2, a structural seam 215, which may be an approximatelyperpendicular and/or angled seam, may create a depth FIG. 3, 305 to thepocket 120. The depth may be 0.15-1.50 inches or any dimension inbetween. For example, the depth may be (all dimensions provided ininches) 0.15-1.50, 0.15-1.25, 0.15-1.10, 0.15-1.00, 0.15-0.90,0.15-0.75, 0.25-1.50, 0.25-1.25, 0.25-1.10, 0.25-1.00, 0.25-0.90,0.25-0.75, 0.35-1.50, 0.35-1.25, 0.35-1.10, 0.35-1.00, 0.35-0.90,0.35-0.75, 0.45-1.50, 0.45-1.25, 0.45-1.10, 0.45-1.00, 0.45-0.90,0.45-0.75, 0.55-1.50, 0.55-1.25, 0.55-1.10, 0.55-1.00, 0.55-0.90,0.55-0.75, 1.50, 1.25, 1.10, 1.00, 0.90, 0.75, and values falling inthese ranges. Adding depth to the pocket pouch 210 redistributes theweight of the objects inside the pocket pouch 210 thus making possiblepositioning the objects for optimal concealment within the skirt. Forexample, positioning objects to fall in toward the wearer's body 307versus out toward the skirt face 102—which falling out toward the skirtface 102 may lead to bulging.

The structural element, such as structural seam 215 may be created usingmany mechanisms known in the art, for example but not limited to,folding the material used for the pocket pouch 210 onto itself to formone or more pleats which may be box pleats or other kind of pleat orfolded fabric configuration. The structural seam 215 may alternativelyor additionally be created using dimensioning devices (e.g., collarstays, rods, plastics, corner reinforcements, and similar).

The structural seam 215, e.g., pleating, folding, reinforcing withcollar stays, etc., of the pocket pouch 210 creates a three-dimensionalpouch in which one may conceal numerous items. Additionally, thethree-dimensional aspect of the pocket pouch 210, by encouraging thepositioning of internal objects toward the wearers body 307, allows anybulge created by the items placed in the pocket 120 to show only on theinside of the garment 105, thus maintaining the pleasing line and shapeof the silhouette of the garment 105. The pocket pouch 210 may beinfused with plasticizer, fabric stiffener, or another material thatwould provide a certain degree of rigidity to the pocket pouch 210.Alternatively or additionally, the pocket backing 205 may be infusedwith plasticizer, fabric stiffener, or another material that wouldprovide a certain degree of rigidity to the pocket backing 205.

The pocket pouch 210 may be assembled onto a pocket backing 205. In onevariation, the pocket backing may form a side-wall of the pouch. In asecond variation, the pocket pouch 210 may be a complete pouch (e.g.,have complete integrity to secure items without the backing) that isassembled onto a pocket backing 205.

The stipling on FIG. 2 illustrates possible locations for adhesives 130.The box at the top of FIG. 2 is merely a key indicating that stiplingrepresents adhesives 130. While adhesive 130 is shown on FIG. 2 at side124, the adhesive may be applied to any portion where attachment isdesirable.

FIG. 3 provides a side cross section of a wearer wearing a garment 105assembled with a pocket 120 or a pocket pouch 210. The wearer has a body307. The pocket 120 or pocket pouch 210 is assembled (fixedly ordetachably) with the garment 105 such that the access means 135 isaligned with the terminal edge 115 of the garment 105. The pocket 120 orpocket pouch 210 is upside down from known pockets. Objects are insertedup into the pocket pouch 210 e.g., the second side 124 is orientedtoward the top portion 107 of the garment 105. FIG. 3 furtherillustrates the depth 305 of the pocket pouch 210 which may have thedimensions described above.

FIG. 4 illustrates another variation of the pocket 120 and pocket pouch120 demonstrating the variability available to the design. In thisexample, the garment 105 is shown inside-out. The pocket pouch 210 has agenerally triangular shape. This shape may, for example, approximate ahuman hand. This shape may facilitate or simplify adding and removingcontents from the pocket pouch 210.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pocket pouch 210 without a pocket backing 205, thepocket pouch 210 may have one or more sides, indicated by 522, 524, 526,528. Four sides are shown for illustration, however, as seen in FIG. 4,the pocket pouch 210 may have fewer sides. It would be understood by oneof skill in the art that the pocket pouch 210 may also have more thanfour sides.

In the variation shown in FIG. 5, the first side 522 and the second side526 of the pocket pouch 210 may be attached at one or more seams FIG. 1,125. The second side 524 of the pocket pouch 210 may be secured usingadhesive material 130 (designated by stipling) (which in this examplewould be located on the underside of the pocket pouch 210). The fourthside 528 may be attached using either means, e.g., sewing, adhesive,permanent adhesive backing, pre-mounted permanent iron on adhesivebacking or other known means of securing fabric to fabric. The locationof the adhesive material 130 shown in this and other figures is forillustrative purposes only. The adhesive material 130 and technique ofattachment will be easily determined on a case by case basis by the userof the pocket 120 or pocket pouch 210.

In a second variation, the pocket pouch 210 may be entirely removablyattached to the garment 105 by using adhesive material or another methodof attachment. For example, the pocket pouch 210 may be removablyattached to the garment 105 by using hook and loop tape, VELCRO,pre-mounted VELCRO backing, or another method of attachment. It will beunderstood that the pocket pouch 210 attachment is not limited to beingsewn onto the seams 125 of the garment 105. The pocket pouch 210 mayalso be removaby or fixedly attached to the garment 105 at otherlocations and by other means, such as but not limited to by sewing, theuse of adhesive material, hook and loop tape, adhesive snaps, or anothermethod of attachment

The pocket backing 205 may provide a winged surface facilitatingassembly of the pocket 120 with a garment 105. For example, theremovable adhesives listed above may be located on the pocket backing205.

Method of using a pocket 120. A pocket 120, 210 may be purchasedseparately and added permanently to a garment 105, e.g., by sewing,permanent adhesives, or otherwise. Once attached the to the garment, awearer may position items inside the pocket. Items may be inserted whilewearing the garment or before wearing the garment. The wearer may thengo about the business of the day. When the wearer wishes to access thecontents of the pocket, the wearer will reach down and open the pocket120, 210 by accessing the access means 135, creating an opening, andcatching the contents as they fall into the user's hand.

In another variation of a method of using a pocket 120. A pocket 120,210 may be purchased separately and added temporarily to a garment 105,e.g., by adhesives, loop tape, or other known attachment means. Eitherbefore or after the pocket 120 or pocket pouch 210 are attached the tothe garment, a wearer may position items inside the pocket. Items may beinserted while wearing the garment or before wearing the garment. Thewearer may then go about the business of the day. When the wearer wishesto access the contents of the pocket, the wearer will reach down andopen the pocket 120, or pocket pouch 210 by accessing the access means135, creating an opening 134, and catching the contents as they fallinto the user's hand.

Method of Making the Pocket 120.

In one variation, the pocket 120 may be made for example, by folding thematerial used for the pocket pouch 210 onto itself to form one or morepleats 215 which may be box pleats or other kind of pleat or foldedfabric configuration known in the sewing arts. The pleating or foldingof the pocket pouch 210 creates a three-dimensional pouch in which onemay conceal numerous items. Prior to or after folding, the fabric makingup the pocket pouch 210 may be infused with plasticizer, fabricstiffener, or another material that would provide a certain degree ofrigidity to the pocket pouch 210. Once folded, the pocket pouch 210 maybe affixed to the pocket backing 205 along the outer edge 225 of thepocket pouch 210 and a portion of the bottom edge 230 of the pocketpouch 220 by sewing, using adhesive material, or other method, leaving aportion of the bottom edge 230 of the pocket pouch 210 unaffixed for theinsertion of an access means 135. The access means 135, for example, azipper, may be affixed to the pocket backing 205 and pocket pouch 210 bysewing, adhesive, or other method. The access means 135, which may be azipper, may be convex or another type that would resist sagging underthe weight of the contents contained the pocket 120. For example, withthe pocket 120 oriented on the garment 105 so that the access means 135is at or near the bottom of the garment's hem 110, may prevent thepocket 120 from sagging below the bottom of the hem 110 of the garment105 and exposing the pocket 120 from underneath the garment.

An advantage of the disclosed pocket 120, and pocket pouch 210 overprior solutions include, because the pocket 120 is not required to becomprised of any portion of undergarments, there is no need to wearundergarments, such as a slip or half-slip, in order to obtain use ofthe pocket 120. By not constructing the pocket 120 out of any portion ofthe hem 110 of the garment 105, the hem 110 can accept decorativetreatments, such as a frayed edge, ruching, pleats, etc. and there is nolimitation on the construction of the hem 110, its depth, or etc. Forexample, since the hem 110 does not hold the contents of the pocket, ablind-hem stitch may be used.

Another advantage of the pocket 120 is the self-contained backing. Priorsolutions rely upon the fabric of the garment to which it is attached.Using the garment as backing (by merely sewing a piece of material overthe garment such and leaving an opening for inserting objects) havedrawbacks of increasing the wear and tear on the garment. The pocket 120having self-contained backing, has increased integrity. The pocket 120having a self-contained backing has the ability to be moved to multiplegarments. This may be particularly advantageous if one wants to purchaseone product that may be used regularly in multiple outfits.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated anddescribed, as it also covers all equivalent implementations insofar asthey do not depart form the spirit of the invention. Further, theinvention is not yet limited to the combination of features as describedherein but may be defined by any other combination of all of theindividual features disclosed. Further, the invention is not yet limitedto the sequence of method steps as described herein but may be definedby any other combination or order the steps disclosed. Any personskilled in the art of will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims that modifications could bemade to the disclosed embodiments of the invention without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

1. A detachable pocket comprising: a garment having a waistline and aterminal edge; a pocket removably attached to the garment; the pockethaving a front wall and a back wall; the front wall having at least onestructural element; the front wall secured to the back wall to form athree-dimensional compartment; the three-dimensional compartment havinga depth; the compartment comprising a closed perimeter and an opening;the compartment oriented on the garment such that the closed perimeteris oriented toward the waistline and the opening is oriented toward theterminal edge; the opening further oriented to align with the terminaledge such that the opening is within about 0 to about 0.5 inches fromthe terminal edge.
 2. The detachable pocket of claim 1 the openingassembled with an access means.
 3. The detachable pocket of claim 2, theaccess means comprising a zipper.
 4. The detachable pocket of claim 3,the zipper comprising a convex zipper.
 5. The detachable pocket of claim1, the structural element comprising a pleat.
 6. The detachable pocketof claim 1, the depth being about 0.15 to about 1.50 inches.
 7. A pocketcomprising: a garment having a waistline and a terminal edge; a pocketfixedly secured to the garment; the pocket comprising at least a frontwall and a back wall; the front wall having at least one structuralelement; the front wall secured to the back wall to form athree-dimensional compartment; the three-dimensional compartment havinga depth; the compartment comprising a closed perimeter and an opening;the compartment oriented on the garment such that the closed perimeteris oriented toward the waistline and the opening is oriented toward theterminal edge; the opening further oriented to align with the terminaledge such that the opening is within about 0 to about 0.5 inches fromthe terminal edge.
 8. The detachable pocket of claim 7 the openingassembled with an access means.
 9. The detachable pocket of claim 8, theaccess means comprising a zipper.
 10. The detachable pocket of claim 9,the zipper comprising a convex zipper.
 11. The detachable pocket ofclaim 1, the structural element comprising a pleat.
 12. The detachablepocket of claim 1, the depth being about 0.15 to about 1.50 inches. 13.A method of carrying items comprising: providing a detachable pocket anda garment; the garment having a waistline and a terminal edge; thepocket comprising at least a front wall and a back wall; the front wallhaving at least one structural element; the front wall secured to theback wall to form a three-dimensional compartment; the three-dimensionalcompartment having a depth; the compartment comprising a closedperimeter and an opening; the compartment oriented on the garment suchthat the closed perimeter is oriented toward the waistline and theopening is oriented toward the terminal edge; the opening comprising anaccess means; the opening also oriented to align with the terminal edgesuch that the access means is within about 0 to about 0.5 inches fromthe terminal edge; attaching the pocket to the garment with anattachment means; accessing the compartment by engaging the access meansto create an opening; inserting a personal item into the compartmentthrough the opening; engaging the access means to close the compartment.14. The method of claim 13, the access means comprising a zipper. 15.The method of claim 14, the zipper comprising a convex zipper.
 16. Themethod of claim 13, the structural element comprising a pleat.
 17. Themethod of claim 13, the depth being about 0.15 to about 1.50 inches.